From Scott Woodbury MSD is encouraging the use of rain gardens. Still no utility break for them, but there is a break for permeable paving. Unfortunately permeable paving is expensive. MSD seems to be on the fence about using drainage pipes (called underdrains). One camp believes that water can not…
By Larry Hummel Build brush piles. Before we had this property I had no idea how many critters used brush piles. Birds use them for cover and food and reptiles have the same uses for them. Turkeys nest in them and mammals use them for a variety of purposes. Branches and…
By Susan Orr Until 8 years ago I had never gardened. Today we have over 100 species of native plants, shrubs, and trees in the yard. It has been an exciting adventure and begun for two reasons: first, to attract a greater variety of birds to our yard, second, to…
From Wildflowers in the Home Landscape, University of Missouri Extension Sheet g6660 Woodland wildflowers have these basic needs: light shade, adequate moisture, soil high in organic matter, well-drained soil, and a leaf mulch or other organic mulch that persists throughout the year. Shade – Most woodland wildflowers do not grow…
by Marilyn Chryst, St. Louis Chapter President We again co-sponsored a Landscape Challenge Contest with Grow Native and Shaw Nature Reserve. For our part we publicized, helped judge, and planted the winning yard. We had a booth at St. Louis County Library’s Eco-Festival in April, a celebration of Earth Day.
Welcome to the resurrection of the St Louis Wild Ones Newsletter. The purpose of this publication is to exchange ideas and share experiences among the members. I have volunteered to edit it, but you need to write it. Send your articles and ideas to me through the contact form. Tell…
By Larry Hummel Winter is a good time to catch up on a number of projects around the yard and complete the usual chores that the dormant winter plants allow. Trees and understory shrubs. These plants range from 30 foot oaks to the slow growing deciduous hollies that are 5…
By Terri Brandt I enjoy the eye-catching beauty of wildflowers growing along roadsides, trails, and streambanks. Nature provides all the color of the rainbow to my favorite country roads, hiking trails, and walks near home. But on closer observation, it is not simply the beauty of these plants that interests…
Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration. Lou Erickson The real meaning of plant catalog terminology:
Submitted by Marilyn Chryst, President, St. Louis Chapter We co-sponsored (with Grow Native! and Shaw Nature Reserve) a Landscape Challenge contest. For our part we publicized, helped judge, and planted the winning yard. We held the traditional August joint meeting with the Mid-Missouri Chapter. It was held at a new…
